Feed-water and water-level regulator.



. CRUICKSHAMKS A. .SCENE (No Model.)

Patented Det. 30, |900. NUR. FEED WATER AND WATER LEVEL BEGULATDR.

(Applicatiun led Mar. 3, 1900.)

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W/ T/VE SSE S Mamma@ m A rvrHA/Ers No. 660,722. Patented 0ct. 30, |900.

A. CRUICKSHANKS & A. SCRIVENOR. FEED WAT-ER AND WATER LEVEL REGULATOR.

(Application led Har. 8, 1900.) (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

No. 660,722. Patented 00L 30, |900.

A. CRUICKSHANKS &. A. SCRIVENOR.

FEED WATER AND WATER LEVEL REGULATOR. (Application mea am.' a, 1900.) (No Model.)

3 Sheets-Sheet 3,

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'Il-Nimh@ STATES Frio,

ALEXANDER CRUIOKSHANKS AND ARTHUR SCRIVENOR, OF RICHMOND;

VIRGINIA.

FEDQWATR AND WATER-LEVEL REGULATOR.

sPEcIFIcATIoN forming part of Letters Patent No. 660,722, dated october so, ieoo. Application led March 3, 1900. -serial No. 7,202. (No inoldel.

j which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to feed-regulators, and particularly to feed-regulators for boilers, tanks, vats, &c.; and it has for its objectA the provision of means not only for regulating the inflow of the liquid to the receptacle, but also for adjusting or regulating the level of the liquid within the receptacle, and that without interfering with the proper supply of the liquid to the receptacle.

As we have said above, our regulator can be used with many different kinds of recep tacles for liquids; but to aid us in making ills use and operation clear we will describe it as applied to a' steam-boiler for the purpose of automatically controlling the supply of feedwater and of regulating the height of the water-level. It should he borne in mind that the controlling of the water-level and the controlling of the feed are two separate and distinct matters, and the former is, if not quite, nearly as important a matter as the latter. 'Ihe importance of the latter is of course well known to every one; but the importance of the former is not so Well known. It is a fact that all boilers'do not steam alike, some steaming better at a high and others at a low water-level. Then again,giveu a certain' boiler, some firemen are more successful than others when working with a certain waterlevel'. There are occasions when it is expedient to work with a low waterlevel and others again when it is necessary to adopt a much higheroue, and that on the same boiler. These are matters which are well known to engineers,iremen,and water-tenders and which demanda great deal of attention in practice, A most import-antpoint, which must not he lost sight of, is that no matt-er what waterlevel,wh ether high, medium, or low, be adopted in any particular case, the free control of the supply of feed-water to the boiler must not he interfered with. Regulators have heretofore been constructed with the object of controlling the supply of water to the boiler,

and others have been constructed with a View to controlling the feed and also to control the water-level; but in the latter type of regulators the control of the water-level is frequently effected at the expense of a perfect control of the feed-that is to say, when working at one water-level the control of the feed extends from full opening to closed but when we adjust the regulator so as to obtain another water-level we may find that the control of the feed is limited-hin other words, that we cannot get full opening. This is not only a "disadvantage, but a danger. Our 'regulator overcomes this disadvantage, as will be explained in the following descriptionv of the drawings which accompany and form a part of this specification, and in which likenumorals -refer to like parts in the different views.

In the drawings, Figure `I is a vertical section through the regulator and showing it applied to the boiler. Figs. II, III, and IV are vertical sections through theregulator, showing certain parts in positions different to those in which they are shown in Fig. I. Fig. V is a transverse section taken through the center of the regulator. Fig. VI is a transverse section taken. at one end of the regulator.

adjustable sleeve or slide. Fig. VIII is a de- `tail view in perspective ofthe valve. Figs. IX, X, and XI show in section modified constructions of the regulator. Figs. XII to XVII, inclusive, show the same regulator, but with the sleeve and valve arranged to operate with a rotary instead'of with an endwise movement, and of these `views Fig. XII shows a half end elevation of and a half transverse section through the regulator. Fig. XIII is abroken view showing the regulator in transverse section. Figs. XIV and XV are similar t'o Fig. XIII, but showthe parts of the regulator in different positi'pns. Figs.- XVI and XVII are views, partly in longitudinal section, respectively showing t'he. application of the regulator to the interior and to the exterior of a boiler.

In Fig` I', l represents a part of the shell of a boiler, in this case an upper drum of a watermay be provided with a check-valve 3. 4 is the internal feed-pipe, which terminates in Fig. VII is a detail View in perspective of the IOO tu be boiler.. .2 is the external feedpipe,which the casing 5. Adjustable in this casing is the sleeve 6, a detail view of which is shown in Fig. VII. We prefer to make this piece in t-he forni of a hollow cylinder or sleeve, though, will be shown hereinafter, it may be made in other forms.

The sleeve and the valve may be operated in two ways-that is, they may be given an endwise motion or they may be rotated. We will rstdescribe and illustrate our regulator arranged so that the sleeve and the valve may be given an endwise motion, as this construction is perhapsmore easily shown in the drawings and will therefore, perhaps, be more readily understood.

In the sleeve 6, which is open at both ends, are eut one or more ports 77, situated at about the middle of its length. The area of these ports should not be less, and preferably a little greater, than the area of the feed-pipe of the boiler. It will be seen on referring to Figs. I, V, and VI that the casing 5 forms an annular chamber 8, whichextends around the sleeve 6, thus forming a channel through which the feed-water can reach both of the porls7 7. In cases where only small port area is necessary it is better to retain the annular chamber 8 and to use two small ports-one on the top'and one on the bottom of the sleeve G-Ithan it is to do away with the annular chamber and use one port of suliicient size on topI of the sleeve, for by retaining the annular chamber and using the two small ports we equalize the pressure of the feed-water all around the sleeve and so practically balance it, rendering iteasier to move and less likely to wear. Referring again to Fig. 1, it will be seen that the length of the ports 7 7 is considerably less than the length of the annular chamber' 8. Consequently vthe sleeve 6 can be adjusted at any point within a length equal to the difference between the length of the ports 7 7 and of the annular chamber 8 and yet present a full port-opening to the said chamber8. Our meaning will be readily understood on referring to Figs. I, II, and III, wherein the sleeve 6 isshown as having been set so that the ports 7 7 are respectively in The adjusting of the sleeve 6 is effected by.,

means of a rod 9, attached to one end of it and passing through the shell of the boiler, leakage at the point where it passes through the shell of the boiler being prevented, Apreferably, by the use of a stuffing-box. The rod 9 may be given motion endwise by a lever,

preferably or by means of a hand-wheel having in its hub a screw-thread engaging a similar thread on the rod 9. The former means we have illustrated as showing more clearly than any other the adjustment of the sleeve 6. The lever 10, pivoted to a bracket at 1l, is attached to the rod 9 at 12.

13 is an arc on which may be made marks, the proximity of the lever 10 to any one of these marks indicating` the position of the sleeve 6 and also, as will be seen hereinafter, the position of the water-level in the boiler. The lever 10 can be locked in position by means of a stud 14, which is attached to the lever 10, and, passing through the slot 15 in the arc 13, has at its farther end a jam-nut 16.

Within the sleeve 6 is the valve 17, which may be similar in construction to the sleeve- .that is, it may also be a hollow cylinder. In this valve 17 and on opposite sides of it there are ports 18 18, corresponding with, but of greaterlength than, the ports 7 7 in the sleeve 6. The valve 17, which is shown in detail in Fig. VIII, slides within the sleeve 6 and is connected at one end, by means of the link l19, to the arm 2O of the iioat-lever 21. This lever 2l, pivoted on a bracket 22, which may be a part of the casing or which may be attached to the boiler-shell, as shown, carries at one end' the float 23, the weight of the float preferably being 'nearly balanced by means of a counterweight 24, attached to the other end of the lever 21.

25 is a guide consisting of two vertical standards, between which the lever 21 can rise and fall. The principal object of this guide is to prevent the float .23 and the lever 21 from swinging laterally, which'they would sometimes have a tendency to do if the boiler in which they were tted was a locomotive or marine boiler. 'Ioo great a vertical swing of the float ischecked by the pins 26, fixed in the guide 25. -As the float 23 rises and falls with the rise and fall of the water-level within the boiler the valve 17 will be caused lo slide wit-hin the sleeve 6. i

We will now describe the manner in which our regulator operates to control the inow of the 'feed-water.

`Suppose that we are working with a medium water-level. The sleeve 6 will then be set as shown in Fig. l. Assuming that the water has fallen some distance below the proper level, the float 23, falling with the water, has drawn backlthe valve 17 until it has opened the ports 7 7-in the sleeve 6, (see Fig. 1,) thus permitting the feed-water to flow through the ports 7 7 and 18 18 and, as indicated by the arrows, through the body of the valve into the interior ofthe boiler. As the water, and consequently the float, rises the valve 17 will gradually close the ports 7 7 in thesleeve 6, thus checking the flow of the feed-Water into the boiler. (See Fig. IV.) As the water rises and-the Valve closes the latter will arrive at a point where the length of the ports 7 7 left open will be sufficient to admit in a given time a quantity of water equivalent to the quantity of water evaporated in theboiler in that time. The water in the boiler will then be kept practically at a constant level.` If

IIO

normal.

'this level tends to fall, the oat 23 willicause the valve 17 to lengthen theA opening of.tl1e ports 7 7, and so admit more' feed-water. .If -the evaporation is checked and thewaterlevel tends to rise, the rising float .will cause the valve 17 to shorten the opening .ofthe ports 7 7, and so check the inflow of the feedwater until the evaporation. again becomes In Fig. IV we have shown the sleeve 6 set for medium water-level andthe valve V17 as havingbecome adjusted by the iloat23 .so that the rate of inilow of feed-water th rough the ports 7 7 and 18 1Sv is equivalentto the rate of evaporation within the boiler. As-

' suming that the conditions under which we are now working are those shown inFig. IV,

suppose that we wish to use a' higher waterlevel. We set the sleeve 6 toward or in the position shownin Fig. II. It will be seen that the water and the float 23 must rise toa higher level in order to cause the valve 17 to check the'.l'low of water through the ports 7 7 in the sleeve 6. Consequently water will continue to ilow into the boiler until 4the water in the boiler and the oat 23 `have reached the higher level, when the inflow ot' water will be checked by the shortening of the ports 7 7. by the valve 17. Again,s.up pose that we wish' to use a lower water-level than either of those with which we havebeen Working. We set the sleeve 6 toward orl in the position shown in Fig. III. The/'ports 7,7 willr now be closed by the valve 17, and, evaporation proceeding, the falling water-will cause the float 23 to operatethe valve to uncover theports 7 7, when water will again fiow into the,beiler and will continue to do so until the balance of the rate of theinllow and the rate of evaporation is again restored."

The water in the boiler will thenbe at the desired level. In Figs. I, II, and III we have shown the ports 7 7 in the sleeve 6 as full open for the sake of clearness and to illustrate the fact that we can always obtain a full opening of port with different water-levels. practicethe valve takes an intermediate position,`as indicated in Fig. IV, for the reasons and with the result stated above.

Itwill now be seen that we have a regulator which not only enables us to perfectly control the feed to a boiler, &c.,' but which also,while preserving the full control of the feed, enables us to work with a high lora low` or any intermediate water-level.

We do not confine ourselves to the lexact construction of or method. of applying our regulator as described above. Other constructions can be used without departing from the principle. For instance, 'the regulator can be fitted to the outside or to the inside or the top or the bottom -or the side of a boilerl orother receptacle for liquids. Fig. IX shows its application on the outside of a boiler, Fig.V X partly inside and partly outside. `In each 'of these figures the arrows indicate the course of the water. It should lbe noted that it is.

not necessary that thewater.- sheuld.. always liow from the-.outside to the inside of the sleeve 6 and valve\17. Sonieconstructions admit of this direction of fiow, and some-for instance,`that one shown inA Fig. X.-of, the reverse. In Fig. X it will be seen that the feedwater en ters the casing 5 by the pipes 2, passes into the sleeve 6 and valve 17, through the ports 18 18 and 7 7, and through theports 29 29 in the casing 5 into the boiler.

AIn some cases .it rmay be necessaryA to sus'- pend the. f ulcrum 22 of the float-lever21 front the top of the boiler-drum instead of attaching it to they bottom of the drum,.asshown in Figs. I to IV. The short arm 20 ofA the .-Iloatlever would then extend below thet'ulcnuin 22 instead of above it, and thedirection of the swing of the arm 20 when the float, falls being then reversed it would be necessary to turn the valve 17 around 4end for. end. The

7 7 in the sleeve 6, is tothe left of the ports- 7 7 instead of to the right of them, as shown in Figs. I, II, III,.IV, and X.

.The regulator can also be constrfuctedfa shown in Fig. XI, wherein .the `sleeve dandl the valve17 arein the form of dat plates or slides sliding within the casing 5, the. casing in thiscase being rectangular instead of lcylindrical and having an openingor. port 28 in the under side for the exit of the' water. The feed-water would then pass. through theA ports 7 and 18 and through the port.28.into.the boiler; but this form, though simple, has its disadvantages. In the first place the flat slide andvalve are harder to fit and more aptto jam than are those which are cylindrical and, secondly,the pressure of the feed-water on the upper face of the slide' bengunbalanced will render the slide harder toadjnst and more liable to wear. Again, asxhereinbefore stated, the sleeve 6 and the valve 17 may-be, given a rotary movement, asfshown in Figs. XII to XVII, inclusive, instead of' anendwise movement, as shown in Figs. I to IOC) IIO

shown in Figs. XII and XVI, it could be attached directly to the end4 of the valve, lying at right angles to the axis of the valve instead of in line with it, as shown in Fig. I. r In Figs. XII .to XVI, inclusive, 4 is the feed-inlet; 5,-the casing; 7 7, the'ports in the sleeve; 8, the annular chamber in the casing 5; 17, the valve; 18 18, the ports inthe valve; 21, the neat-lever, which may be connected to the valve `17 by means ofv .a bell-crank or` 'which'may he attached to thevalve itself, (see Figs. XII to XVI,) and 23 is the float;

interfere with their being rotated.

In Figs. XII and XVI, 9 is the sleeve-adjusting rod; 10, the lever, and 13 the are, having the slot 15. 14 is the stud iixed in the lever 10 and passing through the -slot 15 in the are 13, and 16 is the jam-nut by which the lever 10 is secured in position after setting the sleeve. The lever 10, are 13, dac., and the manner of connect-ing the float-lever 21 to the valve 17 are not shown in Figs. XIII, XIV, and XV to avoid complication of the drawings. In the rotating sleeve and valve the length of the ports 7 7 and 18 18 is measured on the circumference and the width of the said ports on the axis of the said sleeve and valve, while in the case of the sliding sleeve and valve the length of the said ports is measured on the axis and their width on the circumference of the said 'sleeve and valve. yIn Fig. XVI, 30 is a pin or tap-bolt Iixed in the casing 5, and which, passing through slots 3l in the sleeve 6 and valve 17, prevent the said sleeve and valve from being accidentally displaced-that is, moved lengthwise in and perhaps withdrawn from the case -but which at the same time does not If it is found to be desirable, the slot 31 in the valve 17 can be cut of such a length and so located in the valve that the pin 30 will act as astop to limit the rotation of the valve, and consequently the range of rise and fall of the float; but of course the rotation of the valve and the range of rise and fall of the fioat can be limited by means of pins set in guides similar to those shown at 26 in Figs. I to IV, inclusive. In Fig. XII the sleeve 6 is shown as serl for a vmoderately high water-level, and the valve 17 has been rotated by the rising float 23 until the ports 7 7 in the sleeve 6 are nearly closed by the valve 17. If the rate of evaporation is now equal to the rate of inflow of the feed through the ports 7 7, the oat 23 and the valve 17 will remain in the position shown. If evaporation is now checked, the wate r-level and the float 23 will begin to rise, thus cansing the valve 17 to close the ports 7 7 in the sleeve 6 still more and so check the inflow of the feed, or if The evaporation increases rapidly the water-level and the fioat 23 will begin to fall, thus causing the valve 17 to open the ports 7 7 in the sleeve 6 until by admitting more feed-water the fall of the water-level is checked. This is what takes place in practice; but for the sake of illustration let us suppose that starting with the-parts of the regulator in the positions shown in Fig. XII the water-level and the float 23 rapidly fall to the level shown in Figs. XIII and XVI. It will now be seen that the ports 7 7 in the sleeve 6 are unobstructed by the valve 17- that is to say, they are full open--and offer a free passage for the inflow of the feed-water. It is of course supposed that the feed pumps or injectors, or whatever means of supplying Water to the boiler is employed, are setso that the maximum feed is a little more than the maximum evaporation. We will now suppose, for the sake of further illus# tration, that with the parts of the regulator in positions shown in Figs. XIII and XVIwe Wish to set the regulator tol high water-level. The sleeve 6 is turned by means of the lever 10 and the rod 9 until it is in the position shown in Fig. XIV. The ports 7 7 in the sleeve 6 are still full open and water fiows rapidly into the boiler until raising the waterlevel, and consequently the float 23, the valve 17 is rotated to the position shown in Fig. XV. The valve 17 now obstructs the ports 7 7 in the sleeve 6, leaving an opening suicient t'o allow of a rate of inflow of feed-Water equivalent to the rate of evaporation Within the boiler.

Fig. XVII illustrates a manner of attaching the regulator in which the sleeves 6 and the valve 17 are arranged to be rotated to the exterior of the boiler. In this figure, 32 is a piece of pipe attached to the delivery end of the valve, the purpose of this pipe being merely to conduct the incoming Water well into the boiler. Such pipes are generally used in practice. It will be seen from Figs. XII to XVII that some advantages which the rotary movement of the sleeve and valve gives us are the greater simplicity of the connections, the small space taken up, and the practically unlimited range of water-levels over which We have control, if such a range is desirable, for it is evident that the sleeve 6 can be rotated through three hundred and sixty degrees and yet present a full port-opening to the water in the chamber 8. As a matter of fact, such a range is not necessary in the case' of steam-boilers. The range of the water-levels obtained in the case of the regulators having the sliding valve and sleeve is more than enough for all practical purposes and is onlyvdependent on the proportions of the chamber 8 and upon the ratio of the floatlever.

In the claims We have used the term working level to designate the level to which we desire the inid within the receptacle to rise o1' fall oron which we desire the fluid to remain steady-that is to say, a high level, a low level, a medium level, and so on. For instance, 'suppose that in the case of a steamboiler we are working with a high Water-level and wish to work with less water in the boilerthat is, at a lower level. This new level is the new working level.

We have now'described our invention asL applied to a steam-boiler; but its application and its advantages when applied to locomotives, water-tanks, oil-tanks, vats, 85e., will be readily understood.

Having now described our invention, what we claim, anddesire to protect byLetters Patent of the United States, is-

1. The combination of a feed-inlet, a sleeve adjustable in the feed-inlet and having a port or ports to allow the passage of the feed IIC through the sleeve, a valve for controlling the A flow of the feed through the port or ports in.

the sleeve and means for automatically operatingtliy valve.

2. In a feed and fluid-level regulator, the combination of a feed-inlet casing, a sleeve for controlling the position of the working level of the fluid, the said sleeve being adj ustable in theinlet-casing and-having a port or ports for the passage o f the feed from the inlet-casing through the wall of the sleeve, a valve for controlling the flow of the 4feed through the sleeve to the interior of the receptacle, a float, and' means for connecting the float with the valve so that the float may control the action of the said valve.

3. The combination of a feed-inlet, asleeve adjustable in the feed-inlet and having a port or ports for the passage of the feed through the sleeve,Y a valve adapted to control the flow of the feed through the ports in the sleeve, the said sleeve and valve operating together to fully control the flow of the feed when working at dierent levels of fluid within the receptacle, and means for automatically operating the valve.

4. The combination in a fluid-feed and fluidworking-level regulator of a valve for -controlling the flow of the feed through the regulator, and a sleeve having ports for the passage of the fluid through it, the said valve being automatically operated by the rise and fall of the fluid within the receptacle to control the flow of the fluid through the ports in the sleeve, and the sleeve being adjustable so as to alter the position of its-ports to change 'the Working level of thenfluid within the receptacle.

5. The combination in a fluid-feed and fluidworking-level regulator of a valve for controlling the flow of the feed through the re'gulator, and a ported sleeve adjustable with regard to the `valve to change the working level of the tluid within the receptacle'.

6. In a fluid-feed and fluid-working-level regulator, the combination of a feed-inlet, a valve forl regulating ,the feed, and means 1ocated between the feed-inlet and the valve and adjustable in relation to the feed-inlet and the valve to change the operative-relation of the valve of the feed-inlet.

7. In a fluid-feed and fluid-working-level regulator, the combination of a feed-inlet, a valve for regulating the feed, and a ported sleeve located between the feed-inlet' and the valve and adjustable in relation to the feedinlet and the' valve to change the operative relation of the valve of the feed-inlet'.

8. In a fluid-feed and fluid-working-level and a ported sleeve located between the feedinlet and the valve and having a port orV ports to` allow the fluid to pass through it and adjustable in relation to the valve, and which vtogether with the automatically-operated valve controls the flow of the fluid to or from l the receptacle and also controlsthe position of the working level of the fluid within the receptacle. l

9. -In a fluid-feed and fluid-working-level regulator, the combination of a feed-inlet, a sleeve having ports for the passage of the fluid through its. wall and adjustable to,-

change the relative position of its ports and of a valve so as to change the working level of the. fluid within the receptacle, a valve controlling the passage of the fluid through the ports in the sleeve and arranged-tobe operated automatically by the rise and fall of the fluid within the receptacle, and means forI automatically operating the valve.

' 10. In a fluid-feed and fluid-Working-level regulator, the combination olla feed-inlet, a sleeve having ports-for the passage of the fluid through its wall and adjustable to change the relative position of its ports and the ports of a valve so as to change the working level of the fluid within the receptacle,H

a balanced valve having ports and arranged to be operated automatically by t-he rise and fall of the fluid within the receptacle to control the flow of the fluid through the ports in the sleeve, and means for operating the valvev automatically.

l 11. In a fluid-feed and tluid-working-level regulator, the combination of a feed-inlet, a ported sleeve rotatable in the feed-inlet to change the working level of .the fluid wlthm the receptacle', and a ported valve rotatable roo p in the sleeve and arranged to be operated au- A the working level ofthe fluid within the re.

ceptaele.

13. In a fluid-feed regulator, the combination of a feed-inlet having an annular chamber 8, an adjustable sleeve 6 having ports7 in comm unicatlon w1th IIO and fluid-working-level the annular Ichamber 8, a valve 17 having ports 18 and rotatable automatically by the rise and fall of the duid within the receptacle to control the flow of the fluid .through the ports 18 and 7, and which together with the .sleeve 6 control the position of the working level of thefluid within the receptacle.

Signed by us atRichinond, Virginia, this 14th day of February, 1900.

ALEXANDER CRUICKSHANKS. A RTHUR vSCRIVENOR. Witnesses:

" C. W. TrinoclmolrroN,

ALEX.- STUART GIBSON. 

